Few things will strike more fear into the hearts of college students than hearing the word “midterms.” (Okay, finals, too.) I’ll give you all a second to shudder. These “mini-finals” range from routine quizzes to comprehensive exams. A lucky few have none at all. These tests can drain us dry and make the subsequent fall break that much closer yet still oh so far.
They start out as faraway events that lull us into a false sense of security despite the warnings. “Four weeks away? I’ve got plenty of time.” But, whoever is responsible for making time fly, I want to know, for those weeks pass all too quickly. The stages of panic happen earlier for some and much too late for others. The panic is enough to motivate most of us. In the words of Gandalf the Grey, “Study, you fools!” In the words of Edgar Allan Poe, “Quoth the Raven, ‘study!’”
An unfortunate fate befalls those whose panic (and thus motivation to study) sets in too late: the zombie apocalypse. However, instead of groaning for brains, “sleep” is the word of choice here. The cause? Typically, it’s all-nighters. They seem to aggravate the symptoms of this semi-permanent state, but never fear! You too can avoid becoming a zombie. The antidote is easy to find and readily available only for $2-$4 (maybe more). (Hint: coffee shops are a gold mine.)
Junior Christina Roby lamented the fact that there was an essay to write in one of her midterms. “I’m good at writing, but not in-class writing,” Roby said. In-class exams are a scary story all on their own. Students and zombies alike engage in an epic struggle against the clock to hopefully come up with something coherent to write.
Comprehensive exams are probably the ones that are most dreaded. Everything from August to October has to be culminated and synthesized in one final moment. Any amount of studying seems like it isn’t enough to contribute to the desired result. So, what do we do? We either become the aforementioned zombies or leave it up to fate. After all, how in the world can this exam of these proportions be conquered? The ghost of an unwanted result can haunt a well-intentioned, studious zombie for semesters on end.
[author image=”http://echo.snu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Echo-Photo.jpg” ]Rachel Whatley, Guest Contributor
Rachel is a sophomore music performance major and pianist extraordinaire from Yukon, OK. She likes fantasy/science fiction and is considering getting an English or writing minor.[/author]